India, Canada Reset Ties as Cooter Meets President Murmu
Diplomatic reset begins after year-long Khalistan controversy.
Canadian High Commissioner Christopher Cooter presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu on Friday, nearly a year after a diplomatic spat over Canada’s allegations linking Indian officials to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan marks a turning point in India-Canada relations, which plummeted in October 2024 when India recalled its high commissioner and five diplomats from Ottawa, retaliating by expelling an equal number of Canadian envoys.
The thaw began in June 2025, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Mark Carney agreed to pursue “constructive” measures to stabilize bilateral ties, including reinstating envoys. India appointed seasoned diplomat Dinesh K. Patnaik as its high commissioner to Ottawa, who presented his credentials to Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon on September 25. Cooter, a veteran diplomat with 35 years of experience, reciprocated on Friday, joined by envoys from Mauritania, Luxembourg, and Slovenia in presenting credentials to Murmu.
Cooter’s appointment is no stranger’s return—he served as first secretary at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi from 1998 to 2000 and most recently as Canada’s charge d’affaires in Israel. His extensive postings, including high commissioner roles in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Mauritius, and Madagascar, bring seasoned expertise to the delicate task of rebuilding trust. The Nijjar controversy, which saw Canada accuse Indian agents of orchestrating the separatist’s 2023 killing, had strained ties, with India dismissing the claims as baseless and accusing Ottawa of sheltering anti-India elements.
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Friday’s ceremony, coupled with Patnaik’s recent accreditation, signals both nations’ commitment to moving past the row. Analysts see this as a pragmatic reset, with trade (bilateral volume at $8.4 billion in 2024) and diaspora ties (1.8 million Indian-origin Canadians) at stake. Yet, thorny issues like Canada’s stance on Khalistani activism linger, making Cooter’s tenure a tightrope walk between diplomacy and lingering distrust.
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